Concentrator.



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CQMEN'E'RTR (Application filed Dec. 27, 1900.)

2 Sheets-$hee i.

(No Model.)

/CYG/ No. 580,673. Panama Aug. ls, mul.

G. W. THHNBURGH. CQNCENTRATDR.

.Application filed Dec. 27, 1900.\,

(No Model.) 2 Shees-Shaei 2v.

man .drames 'lliafrnwfr @erica GEORGE V. TllORBURGH, OF DRIVER, COLORl'O.

CONCENTRATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 680,678, dated August 13, 1901.

Application filed December 27,1900. Serial No. 41,257. @i model.)

' of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Concentrators; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to f make and use the'same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the,

figures ol' reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in concentrators adapted for use either in treatin g placer material or pulverized rock, as may be desired. A

The invention consists of the features, arrangements, and combinations hereinafter described and claimed, all of which will be fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated au embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top or plan view of my improved machine equippedA for treating placer material. Fig 2 is a section tairenthrough the same. Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation, the rotary separator being shown in longitudinal section. Fig. 4 is a trans verse section of the concentrating belt or apron shown on alarger scale. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the water-supply pipe and its perforated branches, which extend respectively above and below the endless traveling apron.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts yin all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate a framework resting on "a stationary support or base 6. The end bar 5 at the right-hand extremity of the frame is provided with adjusting-4 screws 7 which engage threaded openings in the bar, their lower extremities resting on metal plates 8, applied to the base (3 underneath. By turning these screws the righthand extremity of the frau-ne 5 (see Figs. 1

and 2) may be raised and lowered at pleasure to give any necessary or desired inclination to the endless apron 0, which passes around the large end rollers or drums 10, l1, and 12, jonrnaled in the framework 5. The drum 1f) is located 'at one end of the frame and the drums 11 and 12 at the opposite end ofthe frame, the one being directly above the other. Underneath the lower portion of the belt is located a drum or roller 12B. Between the drums 10 and 11 and between the drums 10 and 13 the apron is supported by small rollers 14, journaled in the framework.

The frame 5 is so regulated that the upper portion of the apron upon which the material is treated is downwardly inclined from the left toward the right, referring to Figs. 1 and 2. The apron travels in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. "When treat ing placer material, the latter is discharged into the smaller extremity of a cone-shaped rotary screen 15, whose walls are perforatet'l to allow the liner material to pass therethrough, while the rocks and coarse gangue are discharged at the larger extremity of the screen. This screen is mounted above the apron and extends transversely thereof, about midway between the extremities of its supporting-frame 5. The perforated waterpipe 1G extends through the longitudinal center of the rotary screen,whose extremities are provided withn spider-arms connected with sleeves l5, which turn on the pipe 16, the latter forming bearings'for the sleeves'of the rotary screen. The pipe 1G communicates at one extremity with a stand-pipe 17. During the operation of the machine water is continuously discharged into the rotary screen from the pipe 1G, whose extremity remote from the stand-pipe is closed, thereby compelling the water delivered to the pipe to ,branch horizontal perforated pipes 1S and 19 leed from the stand-pipe i7 and occupy positions respectively above and below the traveling apron. The pipe 1S supplies the .necessary water for separating the mineral vaines from the gangue on the concentratingsurface of the apron, while the pipe 19 discharges upon tho under portion of the apron above the Watentank 20, through which the apron passes and in which the concentrates or mineral values caught by the apron are deposited. The discharge from the perforated pipe 19 will remove from the apron any concentrates that may not have been washed off or removed from the apron while passing through the water in the tank 20.

IOO

Stof the other riiiles.

When 'the apron is used for the treatment ofpulverized ore, as distinguished from placer material, the rotary screen 'is not used, but" the end sleeves 15 of the rotaryl screen 15.l

The apron 9.which I employ is -connection withI my improved apparatus is of special construction. The body of the apron may be composed of heavy canvas or any other suitable material. Broken riilies 9 are formed transversely of the apron by sewing there- 3 through back and forth with heavy cord, wire,

or other suitable material, the rille. parts 9. and the blank spaces 9c between them alternating across the apron, as shown in Figjlt. The parts 9% of any twoadjacent riffies are staggered-that is to say, the'parts 9 of one riiiie are arranged' opposite the blank spaces These riles may be arranged any desired distanceapart.

' In the operation of the machine the material, which is in the formot placer-dirt or pulverized ore, is fed upon the apron .in the form' of pulp, preferably about midway thereof, and while the apron is traveling up the incline. (Shownin Fig. 2.) The finer portion of, the placer material (if such is under treatment) fed to the rotary screen, as heretofore explained, is mingled with the water from the perforated pipe 16, forming pulp, which passes directly to the apron. The mineral values, which are heaviest-,'settle upon the surface of the apron and are caught by the riiiles, while the gangue, which is of less specie gravi-ty, is washed downwardly in a direction opposite the travel of the apron and discharged atthe tail of the machinel or the extremity where the drum I() is located. The mineral values, however, being caught by the apron-riiiies resist the action ofthe water, which carries the gangue downwardly, as just explained, and are first carried upwardly by the apron and thence downwardly over the 'head of the machine into the tank 20, where the .concentrates are washed off the apron and'saved in the tank. If the passage of the apron through the water does not remove all the concentrates therefrom, the water from the spray-pipe 19 will complete the removal of the values, which will drop back into the tank, as heretofore explained.

It will be understood that the treatment oi the material is substantially the same whether it is placer-dirt or pulverized ore, except that the placer-dirt is vfirst discharged into the rotary screen in order to remove the coarser portion of the gangue, which it would not be practicable to discharge upon the apron. The downward inclination of the apron from the head toward the tail of the machine, as well as the rapidity of the aprons travel, may be regulated at pleasure and as circumstances may require.

Having thus described my-iuventiomwhat I claim isl. The combination with a suitableframe, of anY endless concentrating belt or apron mounted to travel thereon, and provided with broken, transverse rifiles, formed by passing a device substantially of the construction described, back and forth through the apron.'

' 2. The combination with a suitable frame, of an endless concentrating belt or apron mounted upon the frame and provided with broken transverse riffles formed by passing a device substantially of the construction described, back land forth through the apron, the sections or parts of any two adjacent rifes being staggered.

The combination with a suitable frame,

broken transverse riiiies formed by passing a 9o cord of suitable size back. and forth through the apron. l

' 4. The combination with a suitable frame of an endless concentrating belt or apron suitably mounted to travel thereon and provided with broken transverserilles formed by pass.A ing a device substantially of the construction described, of any suitable size back and forthv through the apron, the parts or sections of the riftles being staggered whereby the parts of one riflle are opposite the spaces between the parts of an adjacent rile.

5. The combination with a suitable frame, and 'rollers journaled thereon, of an endless traveling apron mounted on the rollers and provided wlth broken riiiles formed by passing a device, substantially of the construction described, back and forth through the apron, its concentrating-surface being longitudinally inclined, means foradjnsting the frame to regulate the inclination of the apron, a water-tan k underneath the apron ,through which the latter passes, land in which the concentrates are deposited, a stand-pipe for supplying water to the machine, and two perforated ing respectively above and below the apron, as and for the purpose .set forth.

6. The combination with an endless traveling'concentrating belt or apron provided with broken riiles forined by passinga device'substautially of the construction described, back and forth through the apron, and means for ybranch pipes leading therefrom and extendsupplying wash-water thereto, of a conical, f

rotary screen located above the apron, extending transversely thereof, and a perforated water-pipe passing axially through the screen which is journaled on said pipe.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presencezof two witnesses. y

GEORGE YV. THORNBURGH. Witnesses:

A. J. OBRIEN, DORA C. Smelt. 

